Amarillo

Amarillo, which means "yellow" in Spanish, is the center of the Texas Panhandle, at the edge of the Great Plains. It offers wide, open spaces, and breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. Amarillo is the gateway to Palo Duro Canyon, America's second largest canyon. With its relatively mild climate, the city has some of the cleanest air in the country.

Native Americans, conquistadors, buffalo hunters, settlers, cowboys, lawmen, gunfighters and the railroad all contributed to the development of the area, and that heritage is still felt.

Founded in 1887, the city charter was adopted in 1913. Today, the city features excellent accommodations, a spacious convention/civic center, symphony, ballet, theater, opera, golf and Amarillo College.

The Big Texan Steak Ranch is known nationwide for a 72-ounce steak dinner offered free to anyone who can eat the entire meal in one hour. More than 50,000 people have taken the challenge and 8,700 have succeeded. www.bigtexan.com.